Latest news...

Our battle with the Environment Agency has also reignited. For latest updates, look for "Save the Clyst" on Facebook and Twitter.

We are now on Google Maps, just enter
"Bridge Inn, Topsham, Exeter" and the wonders of the twenty first
Century will be revealed.

In addition, there has been a large amount
of interest in the visit by Her Majesty Queen
Elizabeth II, and on this page you will find a more complete write-up of the
events both leading up to and the day itself.

To contact us, email here
Alternatively, you can write to:
The Bridge Inn, Topsham, Exeter, Devon, EX3 0QQ, UK
or phone us on 01392 873862
Find more about the town of Topsham at http://www.topsham.org/

The Bridge under threat!

Bridge beerlists now on Facebook

To keep up to date with what is going on at
The Bridge, and to find if your favourite beer is on, we now have a Facebook
page, set up by John Willis. If you go to the site and click "Like",
you will thenceforth automatically receive notification whenever we update it.

The Royal Wedding at The Bridge

The Bridge celebrates 111 years...

They're changing the beer at Buckingham
Palace...

111 years and a Royal Invitation

2008 celebrates the 111th year of our family in the
Inn. It is unbelievable that 10 years have past since we celebrated ‘101’. In
1998 we were honoured by the Queen’s visit to our home, and we celebrated 101
years by having a special ale brewed by Branscombe Vale Brewery. Some of this
was bottled, and we were able to present the Queen with a case to take away
with her.

At the end of last year I discussed with Paul and
Graham at the brewery the possibility of brewing the same ale, as I wanted to
mark the 111th year. The ale was brewed and duly arrived on March 5th.
We had decided that we would like a case of the ‘111’ bottles to go to
Buckingham Palace. I wrote to the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh to see if
this would be acceptable. Thus with the Royal family very much in my mind, I
was somewhat shocked, when the very next day I received an invitation to an
evening reception for the British hospitality Industry from the Queen and the
Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace. Our letters had crossed in the post! I
was absolutely thrilled to accept. We were also delighted to receive a letter
to say that the Queen and the Duke would be pleased to accept a case of the
‘111’ ale.

I arranged for the ale to be collected from the Inn
and driven door to door to Buckingham Palace. Dave Sugden, the driver from TNT
special delivery service, arrived in a van especially washed for the occasion. He
was proudly photographed outside the Inn with the case of ale in hand. Four
hours later, he excitedly rang me from outside Buckingham Palace to say that
the case had been delivered.

A few days later on May 6th it was with much excitement and some anticipation I
went to London to attend the evening reception. It was a beautiful warm day, we
travelled by train and enjoyed the countryside on the Waterloo line.

On arrival at Buckingham Palace and clutching my entry
card, I walked through the magnificent gates and was escorted to the State
Rooms to be given my name badge. I was taken aside by a lovely gentleman, Major
Richard Maundrell, Equerry-in-Waiting to HRH the Duke of Edinburgh.

I thought maybe this was for another security check,
but to my amazement and delight he informed me that I was to be presented to
the Queen, Prince Philip, the Earl of Wessex and the Duke of Kent. I was glad
that I had no time to think about it and be even more nervous. I never thought
I would ever actually meet the Queen again in my lifetime.

Upon entering the majestic White Drawing Room, I was
looked after by Anne Griffiths, the Duke of Edinburgh’s archivist, a charming
lady who put me at ease. A small group of those attending were to be presented
and
included Gordon Ramsay, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall from River Cottage, the
Young Chef of the Year Simon Christey-French from The Square, and a lovely
lady, Rosemary Reeves from a B&B, The Grey Cottage in Gloucestershire.
It was such an honour and a privilege to be presented, and to be in the home of
the Royal family, in such beautiful surroundings.

Everyone always asks “Did you curtsey to the Queen?”
It would be hard not to curtsey to the Queen, as it shows an appreciation of
all that she is, it is the most natural thing to do in her presence. After a
few words with the Queen, who couldn’t believe 10 years had passed since her
visit to the Inn and a few words with the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Edward and
the Duke of Kent, they passed down the line and joined the other 300-ish
people. We then all mingled, I met many interesting people, all having an
association with the hospitality industry. At 8pm, we all made our way home,
walking out of the Palace and back into reality.

The hospitality world is one of long hours and hard
work and indeed without my family and my loyal, caring staff, the Inn would not
survive. The honour of being invited to the Palace is an honour for all who
work with me to keep the Inn as it is, it is a shared passion. It is good to
know that the industry is appreciated by the Royal family, who after all have
their own family business and showed us their very special hospitality, for
which I thank them.
The day was truly special and will be one of the most memorable of my life.

111 Celebratory ale; just
a few left!

The award winning Bridge Inn at Topsham in
Devon is celebrating being run by the same family for 111 years. To mark the
occasion, we have had a beer specially brewed and bottled, called,
appropriately enough, "111".

1500 bottles have been bottled by
O'Hanlon's of Whimple, with the label again designed by Caroline's photographer
husband Nigel. This continues the tradition started with "101",
famously photographed with HM The Queen, and "106" which was produced
5 years later.

Caroline says: "It is very rare for a
pub to remain in one family for so long. Indeed, our daughter Riannon and her
partner Tom have now moved back to Topsham and we look forward to them
continuing the tradition. The Bridge is not so much a pub, more a museum with
beer, and we are lucky that so many people share our vision of a truly
traditional pub with traditional values."

There are only a limited number of bottles,
and when they are gone, that is it FOREVER.

Lucky snap from the riverbank...

History of ale and brewing Caroline has recently been looking at the
history of the Inn and English Ale. Any information or sources would be much
appreciated.